Hopefully, this e-VoA can prompt an increase in the number of foreign tourist visits and can have an impact on the overall national economic recovery
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Law and Human Rights Ministry has urged airlines to assist in efforts to disseminate information about the implementation of the electronic visa on arrival (e-VoA) facility for international travelers wanting to visit Indonesia.

"I see that there is still a lot of interest from foreigners who use visas on arrival, and e-VoA users do not seem significant," acting Director General of Immigration at the ministry, Widodo Ekatjahjana, said in a written statement received here on Tuesday.

He said he expects that collaborating with airlines will help make more international travelers seeking to visit countries implementing e-VoA aware of the program.

Ekatjahjana and his staff have carried out reviews to check the readiness of personnel, facilities, and infrastructure prior to e-VoA's planned launch on November 10, 2022.

"A few days ago, the Directorate General of Immigration had also written to stakeholders to disseminate information on the use of e-VoA to passengers," he added.

He said he expects travelers to be informed about the e-VoA program properly so that the queues of international travelers at the arrivals terminal can be reduced.

During a site visit, he reviewed an immigration checkpoint with representatives from airlines to see the foreigners’ queues firsthand. Through this coordination, the airlines were expected to become proactive in supporting the government's program to increase tourist visits through the e-VoA program.

"Hopefully, this e-VoA can prompt an increase in the number of foreign tourist visits and can have an impact on the overall national economic recovery," he added.

According to Ekatjahjana, the e-VoA facility will help the global community regarding traffic activities in and out of Indonesia. Foreigners can complete their e-VoA application before departure or during transit, prior to entering the Indonesian territory.

As long as applicants are connected to the Internet, they will not need to waste time and energy exchanging cash into rupiah or US dollars.

The adoption of e-VoA is being conducted gradually by prioritizing VoA services at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and I Gusti Ngurah Rai. For starters, e-VoA can be accessed by foreigners from 26 countries that use the VoA facility the most.

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Translator: M Zulfikar, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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